Doggy Club

20/01/2024

We hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas & new year. Unfortunately due to everything going on in my life at the current time, I’ve sadly made the decision to postpone returning to training for the meantime. This has been a hard decision to make as I’ve made such great connections with the owners that I’ve had the pleasure of working with and I’m missing all the doggo’s faces everyday! Life is just pretty hectic just now and unfortunately I’m not in a place mentally to be able to provide the dogs with the full attention or support that they not only need but most importantly deserve.

Finally I would just like to say a huge thank you to all the support from everyone and especially to the owners that have allowed me the privilege to work with their dogs & hopefully we can all get together again soon as the year goes on🐶🐾

23/12/2023

Brussels sprouts are normally the go to left overs in most households😂 why not share them with the doggo’s?

09/12/2023

🥳 Not long now for the big day! 🥳
Just popping in with a quick top tip...
No matter how you spend your Christmas this year, it's always important to think about the comfort of our pets. 🐾
Christmas is a super busy time of the year.
And while it's important you keep your own sanity in check, it can be a stressful time for our pets.
So if you are planning on having guests around to enjoy the festivities, do ensure your pets have a quiet place to retreat to.
Set your dog up with a safe, comfortable space away from all the hustle and bustle. A comfy bed in a quite room will do the trick! 🙌
Make sure their drinking water is away from the main party so they can hydrate in peace.
And while you might be busy playing host. Do ensure you check in with them throughout the day and give them some quality time with their favourite person. 💖
How will you and your dog be spending Christmas this year?

03/12/2023

🐾 'Tis the season to be furry and festive! 🎄
As a dog lover and proud business owner, I want to share some paws-itively fantastic tips to make this Christmas the best one yet for your furry family members. ✨
1. Cozy Canine Corner: Create a snug space for your dog with a warm blanket and their favorite toys. It's their safe haven amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday festivities.
2. Tail-Wagging Treats: Whip up some homemade dog treats with love. There are plenty of dog-friendly recipes out there for delicious, safe snacks. Bonus: It's a fun activity for the whole family!
3. Toxic-Free Tidings: Be cautious with holiday decorations, plants, and foods. Some can be harmful to our furry friends. Keep those chocolate goodies and poinsettias out of reach!
4. Jingle All the Way: Ensure your pup's collar has an ID tag with updated contact information. With visitors and potential door dashes, it's an extra precaution for their safety.
5. Winter Wonderland Walks: Embrace the winter wonderland with longer walks and playtime in the snow. Just remember to wipe those adorable paws to prevent any irritation from ice melt.
6. Santa Paws Presents: If you can’t do it for Christmas, when can you! Spoil your fur babies with thoughtful gifts. Whether it's a new toy or a cozy bed, seeing the joy in their eyes is the best gift of all.
7. Furry Family Photo Shoot: Capture the magical moments with your entire family, including the four-legged members. Those holiday cards will be paw-some!
8. Spread Puppy Love: Consider giving back to other furry friends in need. Donate to local animal shelters or volunteer your time. It's the season of giving, after all.
🎅 Wishing you and your precious pups a tail-wagging, paw-some Christmas filled with love, laughter, and endless cuddles! 🐾

03/12/2023

🐾 'Tis the season to be furry and festive! 🎄
As a dog lover and proud business owner, I want to share some paws-itively fantastic tips to make this Christmas the best one yet for your furry family members. ✨
1. Cozy Canine Corner: Create a snug space for your dog with a warm blanket and their favorite toys. It's their safe haven amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday festivities.
2. Tail-Wagging Treats: Whip up some homemade dog treats with love. There are plenty of dog-friendly recipes out there for delicious, safe snacks. Bonus: It's a fun activity for the whole family!
3. Toxic-Free Tidings: Be cautious with holiday decorations, plants, and foods. Some can be harmful to our furry friends. Keep those chocolate goodies and poinsettias out of reach!
4. Jingle All the Way: Ensure your pup's collar has an ID tag with updated contact information. With visitors and potential door dashes, it's an extra precaution for their safety.
5. Winter Wonderland Walks: Embrace the winter wonderland with longer walks and playtime in the snow. Just remember to wipe those adorable paws to prevent any irritation from ice melt. Always check temperatures before leaving - too cold temperatures are as dangerous as hot temperatures.
6. Santa Paws Presents: If you can’t do it for Christmas, when can you! Spoil your fur babies with thoughtful gifts. Whether it's a new toy or a cozy bed, seeing the joy in their eyes is the best gift of all.
7. Furry Family Photo Shoot: Capture the magical moments with your entire family, including the four-legged members. Those holiday cards will be paw-some!
8. Spread Puppy Love: Consider giving back to other furry friends in need. Donate to local animal shelters or volunteer your time. It's the season of giving, after all.
🎅 Wishing you and your precious pups a tail-wagging, paw-some Christmas filled with love, laughter, and endless cuddles! 🐾

01/12/2023

💖 Happy Cat Lovers Month! 🐱
As December rolls in, did you know it's the purrfect time to celebrate all the fabulous feline enthusiasts out there?
That's right - it's CAT LOVERS MONTH! 🎉
We're over the moon about this special month dedicated to the cool cats and their amazing hoomans! Whether you're a proud cat parent, a devoted catnip aficionado, or just an all-around kitty admirer, this month is for YOU!
Let's embrace the magic of whiskers, the elegance of the tail flick, and the undeniable charm of those little nose boops. ✨
Share your favourite cat moments with us! Tag us in your photos, share your cat's quirkiest habits, or tell us about the first time your whiskered friend stole your heart. 💕
Pop yours in the comments below. 👇

24/11/2023

🐾 Dog Walking Tips: Making Furry Friends the Right Way!🐾
I've had the pleasure of meeting countless dogs and their people, and I want to share some tips on how to greet other dogs like a pro.💖
Here's how you can ensure every pup interaction is a tail-wagging success:

🐶 Ask for Permission: Always check with the other dog's owner before approaching. Some dogs need space, and it's essential to respect their boundaries.

🐶 Lead Etiquette: Keep your dog on a lead during greetings, especially if you're unsure about the other dog's behavior. This helps maintain control and prevents any unexpected interactions. We like to play the 1-2-3 game for this.

🐶 Keep It Calm: Approach slowly and calmly, avoiding sudden movements or loud noises. Let the dogs sniff each other from a safe distance to gauge their comfort levels.

🐶 Observe Body Language: Pay close attention to both dogs' body language. Look for signs of anxiety, aggression, or stress, like raised hackles, growling, or stiff posture. If you see any, it's best to move along.
🐶 Positive Reinforcement: Encourage good behavior with treats and praise. Positive experiences help dogs build trust and make new friends.

🐶 Monitor Play: If the dogs seem comfortable, allow them to interact and play gently. Keep a watchful eye, ready to intervene if necessary - make sure play is equal on both sides

🐶 End on a High Note: Always end the interaction positively, so both dogs associate the meeting with a good experience.

🐾 Most importantly - never force your dog to play or interact, listen to what your dog wants is the key to help them be social & make the doggy friends you desire. Dogs can have a strong bond with each other without ever playing together but to do that you first have to teach your dog how to respect other dogs🐾

01/11/2023

🐾🎗️ November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month! 🎗️🐾
Our furry friends are an important part of our lives, but just like us, they can unfortunately suffer with cancer.
This month, let's come together to raise awareness about pet cancer and support those pets and their families who are fighting this tough battle. 💪
📌 Did you know that early detection is key to improving the chances of recovery for our pets? Regular vet check-ups and knowing the warning signs can make all the difference.
🔦 Keep an eye out for signs like unusual lumps or bumps, changes in appetite, weight loss, and abnormal behavior. And don't hesitate to consult your vet if you notice anything concerning.
🌟 Let's also celebrate the brave pets who have conquered cancer, and remember those we've lost. Share your inspiring stories, photos, and tips for raising awareness this month using the hashtag .
💛 Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our beloved furry companions. So support pet cancer research, raise awareness, and cherish every moment with your pets.
They're not just pets, they're family. 🐶🐱🦔🐹

31/10/2023

Happy spooky day🎃👻

Any pups dressed up for the occasion, drop them below🐶

20/10/2023

Take care this weekend, doggo’s included🐶 💨

Did you know that when it’s windy or raining it can upset your dog and affect their behaviour?
☔️ A lot of dogs don’t like the rain as they can hear the rain bouncing off the ground due to their amazing hearing
💨 Scents will be blown about from every direction from miles away, this can cause confusion as dogs can pick up scents that aren’t even in the area
💨 Dog’s have good hearing, when it’s windy they can be easily spooked, bins banging, things being blown over, fences falling over etc in the distance.
💨 In a lot of cases, the wind can cause your reactive dog to become more reactive as they can find it stressful with the increased scents & noises
☔️💨 If your dog is refusing to go outside for a walk or the toilet, they aren’t being difficult or awkward. There is most likely a reason behind it

Things to do to help your dog
- Avoid walks till the weather settles, there are lots of way to mentally stimulate your dog which can tire them out the same way as a walk
- use long lines rather than letting your dog off lead completely, any dog can be spooked by anything no matter how reliable their recall is. They might take off after a interesting scent which could have them travelling over a large distance
- keep an eye on your garden, make sure your garden is secure, any parts of your fence becomes damaged, best to patch it up the best you can or pop your dog on a lead when going outside to the toilet

Make sure your dogs microchip details are up to date. If you dog ever does go missing Dana’s Angels Fife is a great group of volunteers who have help reunite many dogs with their owners in the area and finally just be a little bit more cautious, management & prevention are you two most valuable tools with any dog🐾

15/10/2023

3 weeks today Arthur was born🩵 It’s not been an easy few weeks. Even with preparing Nia as much as physically possible, the reality is Nia found her little brother super stressful when they first met, the first 3/4 days Nia was around Arthur she was so highly stressed she couldn’t even eat. For months Nia never looked at the car seat, once Arthur had been in the car seat his smell was enough to make Nia feel overwhelmed & stressed. Through boundaries, having a lot of patience and allowing Nia to come round and accept her brother in her own time and within a few weeks the progress we’ve made is night & day

When expecting you see all over social media how amazing other people’s baby & dog interactions go and if you aren’t one of the lucky ones, you’ll feel as if your whole world has came crashing down. I will be sharing what we’ve found have helped us over the next few weeks to help those who may find themselves in a similar position. The most important thing to remember is adjusting to new family life takes a bit of time, all pets need time to adjust as well & if your pet has never been around babies or children before they might need a bit longer to adapt👣🐾

15/09/2023

*ANNOUNCEMENT, PLEASE READ*

All classes have finished since August time & hopefully will return in hopefully November for at least 1 block before Christmas but this will be confirmed nearer the time. Updates will be posted on social media. All 121’s have finished now as well and again will return in November. Please note that you can still contact me over WhatsApp & email even though I’m not doing training just now. For my 121 clients that are still waiting on videos, I will hopefully get them to you over the weekend, they haven’t been forgotten about but between Nia’s spinal flare up & not feeling great myself we just haven’t had the time sadly.

To everyone that was hoping our monthly walk would of went ahead for September, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to organise anything for you, but these will return hopefully for October, if not definitely November, so keep an eye out on our event page.

Finally, keeping up with social media really isn’t our strong point but we will start trying to keep up with it when we can. Can’t wait to see our current dogs & owners soon and welcoming new ones into our community when we return.🐾

12/09/2023

Our Dogs Are In Danger

Firstly apologies for the long post, this is not going to be a short one at all, but we as dog owners, really are in danger and I don't think the vast majority of the public truly understand that.

I have just sat down to have a coffee after my client, before afternoon training starts, and there are three women on national television talking like experts in canine behaviour.

Proposing that ALL large dogs should have to be kept on lead, with a muzzle on, at all times, children should never be around them and a load of other absolute nonsense.

It is CRIMINAL that non educated, non industry people are allowed to talk as if they know what they are talking about... One of the women referred to the Rottweiler as a 'Rockweiler'... That just says everything.

On top of this they read a 'quote' from an 'industry leading behaviourist' that said all XL Bullies will only attack the jugular vein... Which again is absolute nonsense.

Do we have a huge problem at the moment with dog attacks? Yes, we do, there is no doubt about that whatsoever, but banning the breed will NOT resolve this issue.

First it was the Rottweiler, then the German Shepherd, The Doberman, the Pit... Ban the breed and the undesirable humans of the world will move onto something else.

I GENUINELY believe that ALL of you as owners are currently at risk. We're not that far away from dogs being forced to be muzzled and on lead at all times in public and more worryingly I don't think we are that far away from having all breeds banned except a list of government approved dogs.

Many of you will think I am crazy, but remember this post, because there's a storm coming, and if people don't stand up for their dogs, it's going to be a really, really ugly one.

Please, stand for what is right. Our dogs are in danger.

30/07/2023

So proud of all the doggo’s & their owners this morning in our reactive class. Every single one smashed it, some of the pups even earned a wee treat on the way home like Rocko here🐶

This is my middle dog.. Rocko 🐾

Rocko is a fud.

He really is.

He's reactive, he resource guards toys & his recall is patchy depending on where he is.
(He's also very loving, lots of fun & amazing with kids 💁🏻‍♀️ not all bad)

But today he attended his 3rd class with Melissa @ Doggy Club & he has more than earned that pupcup! I could've cried with the progress we've made. I say we because it's not just Rocko we're working on - it's me too!

I am not a dog trainer, would never claim to be. Trainers have invested time, money, blood, sweat & tears into getting those qualifications & I have so much respect for that.
I walk dogs who have owners that put lots of time & effort into their dogs & I reap the benefits of that - getting to watch the dogs having so much fun on our walks.

For those who struggle with being a pawrent, just need that extra bit of guidance - you are not alone!
If you see me with 6 unbelievably well behaved dogs & think 'wow, she's good' - trust me when I say, that is not down to me (& none of them are mine or it would look like carnage 😅) It's down to amazing pawrents or an equally amazing qualified trainer who has made them great pawrents 💁🏻‍♀️

A huge thank you to all of my clients for putting the time in & making my job the best in the world 🥰

Have a super Sunday everyone 🐾

18/07/2023

🥵 What do you do to keep your dog cool during the summer months? 🐶
It’s tough on our pups when the weather heats up! So we use cool mats, cooling bandanas, fans, frozen treats and lots of time indoors or in the shade.
How are your dogs coping and what do you do to help them stay cool? 💖

A firm favourite is some strawberries & ice cream🍦

07/07/2023

Biting
If a dog bites, it's because he feels it's his only option, his last resort. He really doesn't want to bite.
Before a dog decides to bite, he has already communicated to us that he's feeling unsafe, anxious in the situation he finds himself in.

He will have displayed body language that says 'I don't like it. I'm afraid, please get me out of this situation, please stop'.

This body language includes lip licking, turning away, whale eye (showing the whites of the eye), ears back, displacement activities, yawning, lip curling, showing his teeth, growling.

If this display of body language doesn't work for him (often because his human is unaware of these signs), he will resort to the next best thing, which is a bite.

However, once a dog has learned all the body language signs don't work but a bite does, he's going to skip the body language and just bite next time.

So his humans have helped the dog learn that biting works.

Unfortunately, this often has a sad ending for the dog and his humans.

We can all do better for our dogs.

27/06/2023

Puppy Class🐶

Our puppy class are for young dogs to learn valuable lifetime skills that will help them throughout their lives, helping them become well balanced dogs. We also go into what proper socialisation is and signs to look out for when your dog may no longer be enjoying play, ensuring a well balanced/equal play between both dogs. We work on building a solid relationship with you and your puppy from the start. Our class is also suitable for slightly older pups so please don’t feel like your dog maybe too old. If your unsure just ask, our oldest pup in the class to date is 8months & she absolutely smashed it and made some incredible progress for her owners to continue working on🐾

Please send us a DM or visit www.doggyclub.co.uk there is a possibility this will be our last lot of classes for the summer, don’t miss out if you would love a class environment for your dog, however 121’s will still be available as normal & throughout August🐾

21/06/2023

Reactive & Puppy classes🐶 Start dates for these are:
Reactive - Sunday 2nd July
Puppy - Wednesday 5th July

Our reactive class are suitable for any dog that lunges, barks, snarls, growls, runs over etc to other dogs - both if they don’t like other dogs & any dog that is super friendly and drags you to other dogs. Keeping your dog under threshold & implementing tools to get reactions down and help you not feel so overwhelmed when out with your dog

Our puppy class are for young dogs to learn valuable lifetime skills that will help them throughout their whole lives, helping them become well balanced dogs. We also go into what proper socialisation is and signs to look out for when your dog may no longer be enjoying play, ensuring a well balanced/equal play between both dogs. We work on building a solid relationship with you puppy from the start

Should either of our classes be suitable for you, please send us a DM or visit www.doggyclub.co.uk there is a possibility this will be our last lot of classes for the summer, don’t miss out if you would love a class environment for your dog, however 121’s will still be available as normal & throughout August🐾

19/06/2023

🤔 If you could fix one thing about your dog what would it be? 🤔
Let us know in the comments below.👇

Ours is Nia’s or as we call her “the little land shark” 🦈 greediness. It’s so hard to reward her when she is so greedy, inhales food and acts like there is a food shortage😂 although all fingers are in tack still, we do get the odd accidental nip alongside the treat

15/06/2023

🤩 Here’s my quick Thursday top tip. 🤩
If your dog is prone to digging up your garden, install a simple sandpit this summer and hide toys and treats within it.
Teach them that it’s more fun and rewarding to play in the sand pit instead of digging up your borders and favourite plants!
You’re welcome. 😘

Always supervise pets in sandpits or on beaches so they don’t ingest too much sand as this is bad for them. Why not give them extra fun by giving them a ball pit as well🐶

28/05/2023

🙌 There are 5 big reasons to book for our reactive class🙌
💕 We give you the tools and techniques to live in harmony with your dog. Where everyday is a joy not a chore and you live in peace, side by side.
💕 We help you regain your confidence back when out with your dog
💕 We focus on building engagement, keeping dogs under threshold - every dog has a different threshold & we adapt to each dog
💕 Each week we aim for you to see at least one small change in your dog - reactivity is a working progress, there’s no such thing as a quick fix
💕 Our reactive classes also benefit your super friendly dogs, not just the dogs lacking confidence
We hope that helps you better understand how our reactive class can help you and your dog.
When you’re ready to get things back on track, we’re here to chat.
👉 To find out more please send us a DM. We have just 3 spaces remaining for start date of Tuesday 6th June🐶

26/05/2023

🤔 Is your dog treat motivated, toy motivated, affection motivated, or something else? 🐶
My girl Nia is 1000% treat motivated! She is like a hoover with food😂 even medication makes a tasty treat in her eyes👀
What about your dog? Let us know in the comments below👇

10/05/2023

What an absolute cutie she is. She maybe an older girl but she is absolutely smashing her reactivity training & even now has a couple of doggie friends.

We’ve provided some training techniques for her owners & all the work & progress this girl has made is down to them. Was a pleasure to get to spend some 121 time with her💕

05/05/2023

🐶 Here are 5 dog training bad habits we see in dog parents all the time, and what you should do instead. 🐶

🐾 Repeatedly saying the same cue over & over again at your dog just isn’t listening?
What to do instead - Give your dog time to think & process what you’ve asked them to do, if you ask for a ‘sit’ and they don’t do it, use your lure. Lure them into the sit & keep building the connection between action & cue

🐾 Need to do training with your dog but by the time you finish work you can’t be bothered or family life gets in the way?
What to do instead - Rather then setting a “window” for training, simplify it. You don’t need to take your dog outside to do some training. Use that 5minutes you have as the pasta boils. Want to put your feet up & relax? No problem - train your dog with feet up, use the cue’s your dog knows reasonably well so you don’t have to get up. Use your walks, instead of taking the dog out for an hour in the evening, turn it into a training walk - you’ll find this can cut your walks in half, giving you more time at home to relax

🐾 Buying treats because they are well known brand?
What to do instead - check the ingredients on packets before buying. You’ll be surprised at just how unhealthy & processed these are. Avoid treats that say “animal & meat derivatives” look for something with high meat percentage instead & what protein is in it to for those dogs with food allergies. Just because something says “chicken flavour” you’ll be surprised by just how little chicken is actually in it

🐾 Wanting to crate train your puppy/dog but give up?
What to do instead - take it slow, break it down into smaller steps, build confidence up slowly. Feed your dog all their meals in the crate, use your treats, make it super positive. Go at their pace, you’ll be surprised at how easy crate training actually is but our human emotions are what causes us to give up. You can introduce the crate to a dog at any age, even older dogs learn to use the crate & love it, your 8week pup is more than capable. It just takes time, patience & consistency is key

🐾 Fear of failure or embarrassment if your dog does something to draw attention you try & avoid it
What to do instead - don’t, it’s easier said than done but don’t avoid it. Worried what your neighbours might think you look weird walking up and down the street 10times your dog? Feeling like an idiot for standing in the drive whilst feeding your dog their dinner? Embarrassed to take your reactive dog on a walk incase they kick off & people judge you? My answer to you, get out there & do it! Who cares what people think of you? People are always going to criticise if you do something or not. Why let that be the reason to stop you & your dog from having the life that you want. They might seem like small things now but I can guarantee you, when your dog makes that turning point in their training journey, those people will be jealous of you and that’s all because you’ve put the work in and not cared if you felt a bit stupid doing it.

We all have the ability to turn a bad habit into a good one with a little time and patience.
So who’s feeling brave!?
Which of these bad habits do you see in yourself right now? No shame, blame or judgement here! We’re here to help. We all have them, me included.
Let us know in the comments below. 👇

26/04/2023

Now taking bookings for classes starting in May. Our puppy class is aimed at any owners looking to provide your pup with some structure, building a strong relationship, learning how to properly socialise your puppy & give your pup a well rounded start to life, teaching skills that will last a lifetime & most importantly having fun when you do it.

Our reactive classes are perfect for any dog that is struggling in their daily life with people or dogs. Does your dog lunge at people or dogs? Do they growl/snap at other dogs/people? Do they drag you over to every dog or person they see? Does your dog have lead frustration? Has your dog been attacked by other dog previously & things aren’t the same? Do you dread the thought of walking your dog due to the embarrassment of them reacting or have lost all confidence in yourself as a owner and needing a extra hand?

Dog reactivity doesn’t have to always be negative, dogs that are super friendly can also be reactive and this is normally down to frustration. Our reactive classes will teach you the skills you need to help your dog handle their triggers no matter what causes them to become reactive. Our tools are invaluable when it comes to walks, we teach your dog to focus on you rather then being on edge all the time, transforming your walks & your relationship with your dog. No matter where you are in your reactivity journey everyone is welcome in our class

In extreme reactivity cases or if your dog has a bite history a 1-2-1 consultation will be arranged first to make sure the class environment won’t overwhelm your dog and to work on some exercises before coming along to class. You must complete at least 1 month at level 1 before joining level 2

DM us now to book or visit our website www.doggyclub.co.uk for more information

05/04/2023

Such a sad incident locally. This is the importance of being able to recall your dog & put them back on lead at anytime during their walk. All dogs should be in control at all times, especially around livestock. These poor lambs & sheep have suffered alongside the farmer, yet this still happens every year without fail. No matter how good your dog’s recall is - don’t take chances around livestock. A farmer can & will shoot your dog if they are out of control & upsetting their livestock. Let’s keep every animal safe & avoid this from happening🐑🐶

Officers are appealing for information after 16 lambs were killed and four were injured in a field in Kelty.

The incident happened at Blairadam Farm between 10.30am and 1.30pm on Monday, 3 April, 2023.

Officers believe the lambs were attacked by at least one dog, and are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area at the time to get in touch.

The estimated value of the damage is around £7000.

Six lambs were found dead on the farm, and 10 were so severely injured they had to be put down.

Inspector Stephen Gray said: “Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and we are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

“The lambing season has started and worrying can cause stress to sheep that can result in them losing their lambs, as well as injuries that can lead to their death.

“All of this is at considerable cost to farmers.

“Dog owners could face prosecution if their dog attacks livestock so we are urging them to keep dogs on a lead when walking near livestock as well as making sure they do not run or escape into fields on their own.

“I am asking all dog owners to be considerate. Please remember that it is your dog and your responsibility to keep them under control.”

Anyone with any information, is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1580 of Monday, 3 April, 2023.

For more information or advice visit: http://ow.ly/R9TI50NzXMo

29/03/2023

The work he done for the dogs & animals was incredible. Such sad news today

RIP Paul O’Grady🐶